Control system for operating trolley frogs



n; n M 4 7 Z. m .4 3 g 5 u w 9 a a Q 5 8 w M /n 4 3 :fl l fig a .2 mfi 5 l v 7 a a z 4 w imbvl E ,5 TH N- 3 r 1 M 2 52 7 z a $2 2 a WK Y Z E1 0 m .H IN I :7 w w M Dec. 20, 1949 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OPERATING TROLLEY FROGS Patented Dec. 20, 1949 PUNIT'ED LEAT'E'NTT OFFICE CON TROL SYSTEM FOR OPERATING TROLLEY FROGS 'iClaims.

v{My inventionrelates, efinerally, to control apparatus and systems and it relates; in particular, to control apparatus and systems for trolley conductor systems.

qGenerally -stated, ;it,is an object of my invention to provide an improved control system for operated trolleyirogs-Which is simpleand inexpensive to manufacture and is positive and reliable in operation.

,.More specifically, it -is an object of my invention to provide for selectively controlling the operation'of a;switch device in a trolley system from. an electrically operated vehicle without requiring engagement between-means on the vehicle and stationary control means.

-An important objector my invention is to provide for magnetically controlling the operation of a trolley conductor-switch by'magnetically coupling control meanson a current collector of a vehicle with stationary control means in the overhead conductor; system.

.Another object of my invention is to; provide foroperatinga control device fora trolley'i'rog in a trolley conductor system by means .of a magnetic shunt positioned on a vehicle.

-Yet another-object;oi my-invention is toprovide for operating, a stationary control device positioned adjacent a trolley conductor by means ofa shunt of magnetic material positioned =o n a current collector traversing the conductor.

Still anotherobiectof my invention is to provide for operating a control device positionedadjacenta trolley conductor by controllin the reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the device by magnetic shuntmeans onthe current collector of an. electrically operated vehicle.

Aiurther object. ofmy invention is to provide for operating astationary control device by means of flux linkages with magnetic means on a currentcollector of a moving vehicle.

,Other objects \vill in part, be obvious and Will, in part, be explained hereinafter.

In. accordance with-one embodiment of my. invention, a pair of trolley frogs at an intersection between main and branch conductors in a trolley conductor system may be controlled by control devices in the ,form' of permanent magnet members positionedin each of the main conductors in advanceof, oron the-leading side of, theintersection. These permanent magnet members rhavea movablearmature at one end thereof and have their other ends positioned-adjacent the main conductors .so that the air gaptherebetween may be changed by means. of .fiuxlinkagesby the use oiamagnetic .shunt on the current collectorszof an electrically operatedyehicle. Depending on whether or notrthe vehicle is turning as it enters the intersection, thecurrent collectors will be so positioneduthat. one isgin advanceof the other or they will be approximately, in side-by-side relation. Accordingly; the. control device will be operatedv one; ahead. of the otheror substantially simultaneously. The operation of the tro1ley frogs is c0i t-rolled;bya. control relay selectively operable toidiflerentpositions depending on the orderzofpperation of the control devices, so as to. direct the current; collectors either to the branchcoriductors, or along the main conductors. Holdingmeans are-provided'for retaining the con- :troldevices in the; operated, position until the current collectors; have passed the intersection, whereupon they-maybe released due to the operation of additional;control devices positioned adjacentv the; main and; branch 7 conductors on the trailing side of. the-intersection.

For a more complete understanding of the nature, and scope'of-myin-vention, reference may be; made toqthe following detailed description which maybe studied, in connectionwith the accompanying drawing,;in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged end elevational view ofa;control;device-embodying my invention in one of itsform s;

Big; 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the control device; and

Eig..3,is a diagrammatic View of a trolley frog control system embodying the invention in one of its forms.

Referring .to Figs; Land 2, the referencenumeral l0:may,denote generally, a control device disposed tobe positioned adjacent a trolley conductor-l I for operation in response'to the passage thereby. of a current collectorshoe l2 of an electrically operated vehicle without ,anyengagement thereof with, any portion, of the vehicle.

,Thecontrol device IE] may, for example,- comprise an electromagneticcircuit or, as shown, a pair of magnetic core members I4 and I5. These core; members may bepermanent magnets of cobaltsteeLoranaluminum-nickel steel having a high retentivity.

The core members it and l5-may bepositioned relative to the. trolley conductor ll bysupport means i! comprising a body portion 58 having spaced openings I9, and 20 therein .for receiving the upper ,endsof the-coremembers Hand 15. Setsc-rews 22 maybe provided vfor's ecuring the core.members:inzthe-body;portion. With a View to positioning the-pore- ;mem-bers-with the lower tapered-ends thereoi-either on; or closely. adjacent to the trolley conductor ii, the body portion 18 may be provided with clamp means in the form of spaced dependent clamp ears 23 and 24 having means such as the bolt 25 for drawing them together so that the lower ends thereof may be positioned in the grooves 2? of the trolley condu.c tor H and grip the upper portion of the conductor. In the event that the trolley device is used with a round trolley conductor, the lower ends of the clamp ears 2% and 24 may be suitably shaped to grip the round. conductor and thereby support the trolley device relative thereto,

The control device H3 is also provided with an armature 28 pivotally mounted on the body portion R8 in any suitable manner, having, for example, an angularly related end portion 29 which may be retained in predetermined relation to the edge iii: of the body portion it by means of a transverse pin 3% extending between the ears 32 at one end of the body portion. means may be provided, such as the setscrew 33, which may pass through an opening in the armature and be threaded into the body portion l8, for positioning the armature in predetermined spaced relation to the upper ends of the permanent magnet core members I4 and I5. 34 may be provided intermediate the body portion i8 and the armature in a well 35 for normally retaining the armature in spaced relation to the ends of the core members l4 and i5.

In order to provide for controlling an associated electrical control circuit, a pair of stationary contact members 36 may be supported in spaced relation adjacent the body portion is by means of an insulating support member 31. A contact member 38 may be provided on the armature 28 for bridging the stationary contact members 36. The bridging contact member 38 may be mounted on an extension 39 of the armature and insulated therefrom by means of suitable insulation 40.

I In order to actuate the armature 28, magnetic shunt means may be provided in association with the current collector l2. Where the current collector is made of a magnetic material, the upwardly extending flange portions 42 and 43 of the'collector shoe l2 may be used to shunt the lower ends of the magnetic core members 54 and 15 so as to provide a sufficient concentration of magnetic flux in the air gap between the upper ends of the core members and the armature 28 to actuate the armature. In the event that the current collector shoe l2 comprises a non-magnetic material, such as aluminum, bronze, or any of the numerous alloy combinations of these materials, separate magnetic shunt means may be provided thereon such as the shunt members 45 which may be in the form of plates of a suitable magnetic material secured to the current collector on either side thereof by means of screws 41; If desired, the shunt members 45 may in some instances comprise permanent magnet members.

- In order to provide for retaining the armature 28in the operated position for a predetermined interval of time after the passage of a current collector shoe, suitable holding means may be provided. For example, the extension 39 on which the bridging contact member 38 is mounted'may be made of a magnetic material or provided with a suitable holding member of magnetic material attached thereto. A holding winding 49 may be mounted adjacent the body portion 18, being, for example, secured to the insulating support 31 by a bolt 48 of magnetic Suitable stop A spring m material so as to provide for retaining the armature 28 in the operated position after the contact members 35 and 38 have been brought into engagement, so long as the winding 49 is energized.

Referring to Fig. 3, the reference numerals 50 and iii may denote, generally, electrically operated trolley frogs positioned at the intersections between the main conductors 52 and 53 and the associated branch conductors 54 and 55, respectively, of a trolley conductor system. The trolley frogs 5t and 5| may be of any suitable construction comprising, for example, movable tongue members 57 and 58 disposed to be positioned for directing the current collectors 60 and BI of an electrically operated vehicle (not shown) either along the main conductors or onto the branch conductors by means of straight" operating windings 63 and 64, and turn operating windings 65 and 65, respectively. A control relay 68 having an operating winding 59 may be provided for selectively controlling the energization of the straight and turn operating windings.

In order to control the operation of the control relay $58 in response to different relative longitudinal positioning of the current collector shoes caused by different predetermined angular relations of the electrically operated vehicle relative to the main conductors 52 and 53 as it approaches the intersection, control devices 10 and H of the nature described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, may be positioned in substantially opposed relation on the main conductors in advance of, or on the leading side of the intersection. For the purpose of maintaining the control devices it and l! in the operated position until the current collectors to and BI have passed through the intersection of the main and branch conductors, additional control devices 12 and 13 may be positioned adjacent one of each of the main and branch conductors on the trailing side of the intersection for interrupting the energization of the holding windings 49 of the control devices it and H.

With the current collectors 60 and 6|, as shown, in substantially the same relative positions longitudinally of the conductors as they approach. the intersection, the control devices H! and II will be operated substantially simultaneously. Energizing circuits for the holding windings 49 will be provided extending from the conductor 52 through holding winding 49 of control device 16, contact members 19a, conductor 15, contact members 12a, contact members 13a, conductor ll, conductor 18, control resistor 19, contact members 6841 of the control relay, conductor '15, contact members Ha, and holding winding of the control device II to the conductor 53.

Operation of the control relay 68 is prevented since its operating winding 59 is substantially shunted by the circuit extending from contact members 58a through conductor 76, contact mem bers Na, and holding winding 49 to the trolley conductor 53, since the holding winding 49 is of relatively low impedance.

Accordingly, the straight operating windings 53 and 64 are energized through the circuit extending from the trolley conductor 52 through the holding winding 49, contact members 10 conductor 15, contact members 12a, contact members 13a, conductor Tl, conductor 8!!,operating winding 64, operating winding 63, conductor 82,

contact members 680, and disconnect switch 83 to the other trolley conductor 53.

When the current collector Eli-passes the con ,trol device 12 it operates, opening contact members 12a. lhe energizing circuit for the holding windings 49 of the control devices are thereby interrupted and the devices return to the nonoperated condition, deenergizing th frog control system.

Should, however, the vehicle approach the intersection angularly related to the main conductors as when. preparing to turn in the direction of the branch c uctors and 55, the current collector til will be positioned longitudinally in advance of the current collector 6| and will, therefore, pass the control device it before the current collector 8i passes'the control device ll. Accordingly, the control device it operates before the control device I i.

An energizing circuit is thereby provided for the operating winding 6% of the control relay 68 extendin from the tro ley conductor 5.? through holding nding co: act members Z ta, conductor contact members i266, contact mem-- bers 13a, conductor El, conductor 18, control resistor "l9, operating winding 69, and disconnect switch. S3 to the trolley conductor 53, The control relay therefore, operates since the shunt circuit through contact members 6811. is interrupted at contact members lid of the control device H. Subsequent operation of the control device cannot affect theoperating sequence since contact members are now open.

Accordingly, the turn operating windings and of the trolley frogs 553 and El are connected between the trolley conductors 52 and 53 through the circuit extending through conductor 'i'l,the operating windings db and 65, conductor 84, contact members 6%, and disconnect switch 33 to the trolley conductor 5-3. The movable tongues 5i 58 are thereby actuated to guide the current collectors of the vehicle from the main conductors onto the branch trolley conductors.

As the current collector t l passes the control device 13, contact members 53a thereof are opened. This interrupts the holding circuit for the control device iii so that the control device returns to the deenergized position deenergizing the operating winding ofthe control relay t3 and the turn operating windings of the trolley frogs, thus restoring the control system to the deenergized condition.

From the above description and the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and effective control system for trolley frogs which does not require engagement of the current collectors or any part of the moving vehicle with stationary control apparatus such as contact members or the like. Accordingly, the diificulties of maintaining suitable contact between the current collectors and such devices are obviated, and a more reliable system is provided since dirt and oxidation do not appreciably affect the magnetic flux paths of control devices embodying my invention.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scop thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A control system for a trolley frog at an intersection between main and branch trolley conductors comprising, circuit means including relay means having an openmagnetic core structure mounted. above themain conductor with an air gap therein adjacent the 'conductor'and operable in response to reduction of the reluctance of the air gap for selectively controlling the operation of the trolley frog to guide the current coll ctor of a vehicle either along the main conductor or onto the branch conductor, and-magnetic means on the current collector effective to reduce the reluctance of said air gap for magnetically controlling the relay to determine the position of the trolley frog.

2. A control system for a pair of trolley frogs connecting pairs of main and branch conductors in a trolley conductor system comprising, circuit means selectively controlling the operation of the trolley frogs including relay means having armatures for controlling the circuit means actuated. by magnetic flux from. magnetic core 'members positioned adjacent and above the conductors so as to be clear of a dewired current collector, and means on the current collectors of an electrically operated vehicle disposed in pre determined spaced relation with the core members for controlling the flux linkages between the armatures core members.

3. A control system for a pair of trolley frogs at an intersection of a pair of main conductors and a pair of branch conductors comp-rising, control means including a pair of relays having movable armature members positioned above the conductors for controlling the operation of the trolley frogs dependent on the order of operation of the armature members and core members of magnetic material including flux producing means for actuating the ar-matures positioned in spaced relation with one end adjacent the armatures and the others adjacent the trolley conductors, and means on the current collectors of an electrically operated vehicle including a portion of magnetic material disposed to provide a magnetic bridge between the core members for controlling the reluctance of the path therebetween operating the armatures in accordance with the relative longitudinal positioning of the current collectors.

l. A control system for a pair of trolley frogs at the intersection of a pair of main conductors and a pair of branch conductors each having operating windings for operating the frogs to direct pair of current collectors on an electrically operated vehicle along the main conductors or onto the branch conductors, relay means operable to selectively determine the operation of the trolley frogs, circuit means including a magnetically operated control device of no greater Width than a current collector located adjacent and above each main conductor for selectively controlling the operation of the relay means, and means positioned on the current collectors of the vehicle in predetermined spaced relation with said magnetically operated device for selectively operating said devices dependent on the relative longitudinal positioning of the current collectors as they pass said devices.

5. A control system for a pair of trolley frogs at the intersection of a pair of main conductors and a pair of branch conductors, said frogs having opposed operating windings for operating the frogs to guide the current collectors of an electrically operated vehicle either along the main conductors or onto the branch conductors comprising, a control relay operable to selectively energize the operating windings of the frogs to determine the path of the current collectors,

gages;

circuit means for selectively controlling the operation of the control relay including a magnetically operated control device positioned adjacent each of the main conductors in advance of the intersection having an armature with contact members for controlling the energization of the control relay, a control element comprising a portion of magnetic material on each of the current collectors disposed to be positioned in predetermined spaced relation with the associated control device for controlling the magnetic flux thereof to effect operation of thearmatures, means operable to retain the control devices in the operated position after an operation, and an additional control device adjacent one of the branch conductors and one of the main conductors on the trailing side of the intersection for effecting release of said control devices from the operated position.

6. A control system for a pair of trolley frogs positioned at the intersections between a pair of main trolley conductors and a pair of branch trolley conductors and provided with a pair of operating windings for operating the frogs to guide the current collectors of a vehicle either along the main conductor or onto the branch conductor comprising, a control relay operable to effect energization of one or the other Of the operating windings, a magnetically actuated control device positioned adjacent each main conductor having a core structure including permanent magnet members with a movable armature at one end and an air gap therebetween adjacent the conductor at the other, said armature having contact members operatively connected therewith for effecting energization of one or the other of the operating windings of the trolley frogs depending on the position of the control relay, and magnetic shunt means positioned on the current collectors of a vehicle disposed to pass in spaced relation to the permanent magnet members to reduce the effective air gap between them and effect operation of the armatures, said control devices being positioned in substantially opposed relation so that one of them is operated prior to the other or they are operated substantially simultaneously depending on whether or not the current collectors are longitudinally displaced relative to each other, circuit means for retaining the control devices in the operated position, and additional control devices positioned adjacent the main and branch conductors on the trailing side of the intersection for interrupting said circuit means and releasing the control devices from the operated position.

7. In a control system for effecting operation of a trolley conductor device in response to passage of a. current collector along the trolley conductor comprising, a control device mounted on and positioned above the conductor having a magnetic circuit including a pair of core members of magnetic material positioned in spaced relation with one end thereof adjacent the conductor and an armature pivotally mounted for movement relative to the other ends of the core members, a magnetic member on the current collector cooperative with the core members to decrease the reluctance of the magnetic circuit for effecting operation of the armature, and circuit means including contact members actuated by the armature for controlling the operation of the trolley conductor device.

CHARLES C. WHITTAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Dec. 24, 1913 Number Number 

